ARLINGTON, Va. -
The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has been aggressively implementing the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act since the president signed the bill into law one year ago today.

"The MINER Act was the most significant federal mine safety law in nearly 30 years, and we at MSHA are fully committed to putting its protections in place for America's miners," said Richard E. Stickler, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. "MSHA has made great strides in implementing the MINER Act in the past year, and we are continuing to meet or beat the deadlines set by the act."

Since the MINER Act was signed into law on June 15, 2006, MSHA has taken aggressive action to implement its provisions. The agency has:

Issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) " seven months before the deadline set by Congress " to increase the strength of seals in underground coal mines to 120 pounds per square inch (psi) and require environments behind 50 psi seals to be monitored and maintained inert.

Established new maximum penalties for flagrant violations. MSHA already has issued 13 citations.

Required directional lifelines in all primary and alternate escape routes out of a mine.

Mandated additional safety training and expectations training on the use of self-contained self-rescuers at underground coal mines.